Not A Job I'd Want
There are so many jobs I'd never want to do. I'd never want to be a dentist. Or a pilot. Or an EMT. Or a CPA. I'd never want to be the President. Or a banker. Or a doctor. Or a police officer. I'd never want to be a high school teacher. Or a childcare provider.
I am eternally grateful that there are people who want to do this stuff though. We need people to help heal us when we're broken and battered. We need people to help us make sense of tax forms. We need someone to arrest thieves. We need someone to take care of children. We need someone to pull bad teeth.
I've told my dad this a bunch of times. For most of my life he was a police officer. In the last decade he's transitioned to being a probation and parole officer.
The things he has seen and done for a living...I can't even really imagine. I've always been proud of his work--even when as a teenager I might have tried a little minor lawbreaking myself. It has caused me some worry over the years, too, but I've always been proud of his service to our community, state, society. Its not all about the "bad guys," but what he does to serve and protect the "good guys," too. I think people can be all too quick to forget about that part.
So, on that note I would like to wish my dad a very happy birthday. I'm so grateful for people like him.
I am eternally grateful that there are people who want to do this stuff though. We need people to help heal us when we're broken and battered. We need people to help us make sense of tax forms. We need someone to arrest thieves. We need someone to take care of children. We need someone to pull bad teeth.
I've told my dad this a bunch of times. For most of my life he was a police officer. In the last decade he's transitioned to being a probation and parole officer.
The things he has seen and done for a living...I can't even really imagine. I've always been proud of his work--even when as a teenager I might have tried a little minor lawbreaking myself. It has caused me some worry over the years, too, but I've always been proud of his service to our community, state, society. Its not all about the "bad guys," but what he does to serve and protect the "good guys," too. I think people can be all too quick to forget about that part.
So, on that note I would like to wish my dad a very happy birthday. I'm so grateful for people like him.
All photos from Yellowstone National Park, 2014. |
Hooray for your dad! My dad was also a police officer during my entire childhood, and still volunteers with his local station. I feel just the same as you, and have great respect for the work of our fathers. Plus, every time I get a jury summons, I end up dismissed when the questioning involves, "Has anyone in your family served as an officer of the law?" - a perk for all those nights of worry and dinner without dad, I suppose ;-)
ReplyDelete-Jaime
Oh, yeah! I think this came up once before in comments, but I had forgotten! Hooray for both our dads! I've never actually made it to the court when summoned for jury duty--they always settle the cases before I have to report, I guess--but I will keep that in mind! Yes, the worry paid off years later in convenience.
DeleteThe press is giving police officers a bad rap these days. Thanks to your Dad for his service! And Happy Birthday.
ReplyDeleteIt totally is. And I have no doubt there are bad cops--they're just people like you and me after all. But, oh, there are so many, many, many, infinitely more good ones. They just aren't as flashy as a news headline. I had a terrible ex once who threatened me--and long story short I don't know how I'd have made it through without this one particular local officer who supported me the whole way. Thank heavens for them.
DeleteI really like this post:) I never knew you had a blog, but I will bookmark it. Have a great day Beth!
ReplyDeleteErik Brownlee
Hey, Erik! Thanks for popping by--and for your comment. I life is going well since the last time I saw you--gosh, I don't even know when that was! Have a great day!
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